The Librarians Suggest

How we relax!! Check out what Sarah's reading and loving this week:    Girls Night In :  For ladies who would rather stay in on  Thirsty Thursday   and enjoy the latest book club read or keeping up to date with a few excellent reads), like this one on  venmo ,  fed up woman  and  sensitive comics ) join the club. Netflix, read, rosé and chill.  Project 62 :  The latest product line at Target that every millennial girl is gushing over. My sister and I have already added a few pieces to our apartment. Head over to your closest Target and check out the reasonable home line that is both modern and chic.  Books Are Magic :  A bookstore ran by one of my favorite authors,  Emma Straub . Filled with beautiful books, book readings and author events, this bookstore is like my dream space. Oh and they have an online shop that ships all over the U.S., I just got their  mug  and will be gifting it to...

Two words: Sanjay Patel !!! When I first started researching picture books to add to the library collection my first year on the job, I wrote down goals and guidelines I wanted to follow to make sure our library housed the best picture book collection. It may not be extensive, in fact my list consists of no more than five rules.These days, it's hard to get kids to read books! They would rather play their video games or interact with the tablets glued to their hands. With all the amazing graphic design programs there are, it's no wonder why visual story telling has taken the place over text. That is why my first rule revolves around high quality illustration. Finding stories full of rich and powerful illustrations as well as warm inviting colors, this is the first thing I take note of when looking through books when I'm ready to start acquiring material to add to the collection. How well do the depictions tell the story, what stands out in the pictures? These ...

Five books that every women should read. Full of inspiration, contemplation, self loathing and self love, and gaining perspective from women of all backgrounds. My particular favorite is Mindy Kaling's book,  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?   Need help finding your voice or motivation to change something in your life, these books offer different perspectives on life and hopefully will encourage you to live a better and happier one.  (images via  amazon )

Jade’s graphic novel read of the week!   For updates on the web comic, check it out  here . What have you been reading? 

If you would have asked me seven years what I expected as far as a career, I would have never guessed I would have ended up in libraries. But leave it to an unemployed history major in the heart of New York at an exhibit featuring the last hundred years in children's literature for me to have that epiphany moment. The home to Patience and Fortitude and being in the right place at the right time, I fell in love with children's literature, art/illustration and early twentieth century New York, circa Bemelmans, de Wolf and Fleur Cowles, when publishing ruled the world. The initial entrance into the grand library was like a welcome home and from that point until now I'm in a constant state of amazement because libraries are a wonderful thing. I can't speak for other librarians but I never tire of research, in fact it invigorates me. My fascination and love for picture books has never waned from childhood. I'm so grateful my parents stayed up just to read ...

I don't come across many books that I think everyone should read. I read this for one of our book clubs at work and I found The Hate U Give  by Angie Thomas well deserving of all the hype. It's one of the most honest reads I've read in a long time. I mostly read adult fiction/nonfiction but every now and then I like to pick up a YA or children's book and I'm really glad we picked this for book club.  Starr Carter witnesses the death of her childhood best friend Khalil, who was unarmed, at the hands of a white cop. Living in a poor neighborhood but attending a fancy prep school, Starr finds it even harder to navigate both of her worlds with the decision to speak out about what happened weighing heavily on her and her family.  I try to avoid spoilers so I'm going to leave it at that! It's beautifully written, powerful and thought provoking. This book doesn't hold back and it is a great reminder of how powerful your voice can be and that you shou...

Five Things to Know About Cynthia Rylant:  1. Graduated from the University of Charleston and went on to pursue graduate work at Marshall University in English Literature in 1975. 2. Winner of both a  Newbery Honor Award  and   two  Caldecott Honors,  Rylant is celebrated as a master of writing Children's Literature. ( Newbery: Missing May  and Caldecott:  When I was Young in the Mountains  and  The Relatives Came ) 3.   Before getting her start in writing children's books, she started working as a waitress and eventually became a librarian at the public library in Huntington, West Virginia. 4. In the late seventies, she started teaching English Literature part time at her alma mater, Marshall University when she wrote her first book,  When I Was Young in the Mountains- her very first published work won a Caldecott, pretty impressive!!) 5. Rylant has written over a hundred books during her career includin...